2 Kings 19:14 - A Life Of Prayer.

2 Kings 19:14 - A Life Of Prayer.
2 Kings 19:14 (NIV) Hezekiah received the letter from the
messengers and read it. Then he went up to the temple of the Lord and
spread it out before the Lord.
2 Kings 19:14 (NLT) After Hezekiah received the letter from the
messengers and read it, he went up to the Lord's Temple and spread it out
before the Lord.
CONTEXT: Hezekiah's Prayer: 2 Kings 19:14-19.
Overview
Hezekiah's godly character is praised (18:1-8). He rebelled
against Assyria, leading to an invasion by Shalmaneser and destruction
of many fortified cities (vv. 9-16). But when Hezekiah appealed to
the LORD, Assyria was turned away from Jerusalem (v. 17-19:37), and
the Southern Kingdom was preserved. The account of Hezekiah
concludes with the story of an earlier healing and an unwise welcome of
envoys from Babylon (20:1-21). [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
Background
The material on Hezekiah is organized by theme rather than
chronology. His healing (2 Kings 20) took place before the Assyrian invasion
(2 Kings 18-19).
Hezekiah's first years of independent rule, from about 715 to
705 B.C, were spent in religious reforms. He then boldly rebelled
against Assyria, which was weakened by internal strife. He attacked and
defeated Assyria's vassal, Philistia, and set about strengthening Judah's
defenses. In 701 B.C. a new ruler, Sennacherib, turned to the west to deal
with the rebel coalition headed by Judah and supported by Egypt. The
Assyrians swept along the seacoast and attacked Judah from the west,
destroying the key fortified city of Lachish. Sennacherib then prepared to
attack Jerusalem. The dramatic story of how he was turned back is told
in 2 Kings 19-20, and again in 2 Chronicles 32 and Isaiah 36-39.
Sennacherib never returned to Judah. Twenty years later he was assassinated
by two of his sons.
Pictorial reliefs of the siege of Lachish decorate
Sennacherib's palace in Assyria. Assyrian records detail the spoil taken from
Judah (cf. 2 Kings 18:14) and claim to have "shut Hezekiah up like a
caged bird in Jerusalem." But the great king failed to take Judah's
capital before rushing home. [The 365-Day Devotional Commentary]
APPLICATION COMMENTARY With Emphasis on verse 14:
Hezekiah depended on the Word of God and prayer; he spread the
matter before the Lord. His only desire was to glorify the Lord before
that heathen army (19:19). God gave him a message of peace and
victory (19:6-7), and the enemy was defeated. God knows the battles you
fight, and He will give you the help you need. Spread the matter before
Him in faith, and seek to glorify His name. [Chapter by Chapter
Bible Commentary by Warren Wiersbe]
What is your first reaction when a seemingly impossible
situation rears its ugly head? When you are befuddled, caught off guard,
gut punched, or waylaid, how do you respond?
Christians are not above being stymied by life's difficulties.
As we grow in our faith, however, we should find that our knee-jerk
reactions change. Hezekiah's did. When the conquering, evil king sent a
horrifying message, Hezekiah didn't panic. He went straight to God instead.
Instead of simply reacting, Hezekiah created a space where God could
breathe his power into the situation.
That's a good example to follow. Becoming a believer does not
remove life's problems. When the problem arrives -- by mail, from the
doctor's office, in a phone call -- "spread it out before the Lord."
Invite God into the problem. Instead of bustling around in your own
strength or giving up because you know you're not strong enough, lay it
before God and see what he says. [The One Year Bible for New Believers
re 2 Kings 19:14]
If this verse is true, and it most certainly is, why do we so
often disregard God? Do we treat Him with a token quiet time some
days? Do we run to Him in a crisis and ignore Him when things are
running smoothly? What we need to understand is that God created the
earth with His Word; He determines the times and places of each
person's life; He knows the number of hairs on our head; He ordained
the number of days of each life and wrote them in His book. What
would/could the Christian life be like if we were able to live in a
continuous attitude of prayer with God; if we continuously acknowledged His
presence; if we remained in an on-going posture of listening for His
voice. Be thankful that each day brings new beginning. Today we have
the opportunity to start over and make Jesus top priority! Let's do
it! [In His Time; Walk With Wisdom]
Luke 18:1 (RSV) And he told them a parable, to the effect that
they ought always to pray and not lose heart.
1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NKJV) pray without ceasing,
SPECIAL LINKS ON PRAYER:
Teach Us To Pray by Pastor Doug Batchelor:
http://www.amazingfacts.org/Resources/Download/PBLib/BK-TUTP.PDF
The God Jesus Knew by Pastor Randy Roberts:
http://lluc.org/site/1/podcast/901-10csermon.mp3
The Privilege of Prayer chapter in booklet Steps to Christ by E
G White:
http://www.whiteestate.org/books/sc/sc11.html